Which line from “raymond's run” best illustrates the theme “being yourself is more important than impressing others”? i much prefer to just knock you down right from the jump and save everybody a lotta precious time. i get up and slip off my sweat pants and then i see gretchen standing at the starting line, kicking her legs out like a pro. maybe we too busy being flowers or fairies or strawberries instead of something honest and worthy of respect . . you know . . like being people. every time, just before i take off in a race, i always feel like i’m in a dream, the kind of dream you have when you’re sick with fever and feel all hot and weightless.